Oases of Life: Seamounts and Deep-Sea Corals
Professional Development for Educators of Grades 6-12

Educators of grades 6-12 are invited to join a NOAA Ocean Exploration facilitator on April 18, 2026 at the South Carolina Aquarium for a full-day, in-person professional development workshop. Together we will explore and investigate the geologic and physical processes associated with seamounts and the rich biological communities that inhabit them.

This fun-filled, full-day workshop will include:

• Coffee, snacks, and lunch;
• A brief introduction to NOAA Ocean Exploration;
• Several phenomena-based student investigations and hands-on activities that support science standards and classroom pedagogy to help students understand the formation of seamounts and how and why deep-sea communities thrive there;
• Reflection and discussion with peer educators about how to implement these materials in the classroom;
• A guided tour of additional free, online ocean education resources available from NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Deep Ocean Education Project website; and
• General Admission into the Aquarium post workshop.

Registration is REQUIRED and space is LIMITED. Registered educators will receive a collection of classroom-ready resources to continue exploring the deep ocean with NOAA in their classrooms that includes student investigations, videos, fact sheets, and more. Additionally, educators that attend the full day, in-person workshop will receive a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, and a $100 stipend. The $25 registration fee will be refunded after attending. Please note, a survey to collect more information will be sent upon registration and its completion is required for participation.

This NOAA Ocean Exploration professional development for educators is offered in partnership with the South Carolina Aquarium and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Completion of this registration form will:
1. Opt you in to the NOAA Ocean Exploration Education Newsletter, which offers information about education-related activities, resources, and upcoming events.
2. Provide consent to NOAA Ocean Exploration to use, reproduce, edit, and/or broadcast any and all photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings of me taken during activities funded or supported by NOAA. Please see the NOAA Privacy Act Statement.